We, the parish of Sacred Heart, are committed to enriching the Spirituality of the parish family, the Christian community, and all brothers and sisters created in God's divine image and likeness.  We are called by the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of our Bishop and Pastor, to assist others through the development and promotion of various ministries.  We pray for Divine guidance that we may serve others with truth, courage, forethought, and compassion.

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New Horizons
Christ’s Call to Love
by:  Fr. Mark Watson
 

The Gospel is written at the Last Supper shortly before the death of Our Lord.  There is an urgency to this reading.  These words of jesus are what he wants them to understand before he passes from this world to the Father. 

Our reading as well comes after the section of the Gospel on the vine and the branches.  It focuses on how we bear fruit in our lives.

Jesus tells the disciples that just as the Father loves him so he loves them.

 A unity of love bonds the Sender and the One Sent.  Jesus commands the disciples to become part of the love and the oneness that Jesus and the Father share by abiding in his love.  The source of the love that Jesus shares with his disciples is the love that God the Father has for Jesus. 

Jesus tells them that if they keep his commandments they will remain in his love.  If the disciples are obedient to the commandments of Jesus, they will experience the joy that Jesus experiences from his relationship with the Father and that remaining in his love will bring joy to their lives.

Jesus tells them that his commandment is “Love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).”  The disciples are to love as Jesus has loved them.  They have been loved and chosen and therefore they are to love one another since Jesus has first loved them.

Jesus reminds them that no one has greater love then to lay down his life for his friends.  Jesus is about to lay down his life on the cross out of love.
Jesus then tells the disciples that they are his friends if they do what he has commanded them.  Since Jesus has shared with them all that he learned from the Father they are his friends.

Jesus chose the disciples and appointed them to bear fruit that will remain.  The Gospel ends with the commandment:  “love one another (John 15:17).”  This love is in imitation of the love that Jesus has shown toward them.

CONCLUSION
We have received the love of God through Jesus.  We are thus called to love others.  When Christians act in love they make God present and they allow Christ to continue his ministry through their actions.  As Christians, our lives and the lives of our families are to reflect the love of Christ but also the love of God which is shown in the Trinity.

The hope of the Gospel is not only that we are called to imitate God’s love but that God strengthens us so that we can live that love.  Our lives can be characterized by love because the unconditional love of the God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fills us. 

May the love of Christ that we experience in the Eucharist help us to better live the love to which we are called.

    I would like to recognize and congratulate our First Communion Class who received the Holy Body and Blood of Christ for the First Time last Sunday during 11:00 am Mass.  Please help me congratulate those five children:  Kahlil Florence, Aubrie Gallion, Abigail Njoku, James Willis and Natalia Chandler.

     The children and myself would like to thank all who attended last Sunday's Mass. Thank you to Frances Metoyer, our second grade Catechist, who has guided the children through this wonderful journey. A special thank you to Suzanne Thurmon for her   generosity in providing beautiful flowers and Jan Coleman and Walt Wrecker for preparing the floral arrangements.  Also, a big thank you to our wonderful Ladies Guild for preparing, serving and cleaning Gabriel Hall for this occasion and to our music director Stephanie Carr and our cantor Lisa Wise and the children’s choir for sharing their vocal talentoordinators, and finally thank you to Father Mark Watson and Deacon Clary Nash for their support and prayers.                                Aga F. Chandler, PSR C
 
 

Sacred Heart has a Saturday evening mass beginning at 5:30 pm. In addition, our Sunday morning mass is at 11:00 am. During the weekday we only have one Mass at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.  Confession is every Wednesday after the 8:30 am Mass in the Rectory.  

The Saturday evening mass and Sunday Mass is livecast on Sacred Heart Facebook Page.

THE HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTION FOR THE YEAR 2021

THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS ENTRUSTED TO HIS WORLDWIDE PRAYER NETWORK FOR THE YEAR 2021

JANUARY:  Intention for evangelization - Human fraternity
May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all.

FEBRUARY:  Universal intention - Violence against women
We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.

MARCH:  Intention for evangelization - Sacrament of reconciliation
Let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the infinite mercy of God.

APRIL:  Universal intention - Fundamental rights
We pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis.

MAY:  Universal intention - The world of finance
Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.

JUNE:  Intention for evangelization - The beauty of marriage
Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.

JULY:  Universal intention - Social friendship
We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.

AUGUST:  Intention for evangelization - The Church
Let us pray for the Church, that She may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.

SEPTEMBER:  Universal intention - An environmentally sustainable lifestyle
We pray that we all will make courageous choices for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.

OCTOBER:  Intention for evangelization - Missionary disciples
We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.

NOVEMBER:  Universal intention - People who suffer from depression
We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life.

DECEMBER:  Intention for evangelization - Catechists
Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Vatican, 31st January 2020
Francis
Original : Italian

Plenary Indulgences Available for the Year of Saint Joseph
The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree on December 8, 2020, formally announcing the decision of Pope Francis to celebrate the Year of Saint Joseph through December 8, 2021. Special opportunities to receive a plenary indulgence were also included, subject to the usual conditions: sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Pope, and total detachment to all sin, including venial sin.
 
Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Holy See made provision in its decree that persons who are currently unable to go to Mass or confession because of public health restrictions may defer reception of those two sacraments until they are able to do so. Those who are sick, suffering, or homebound may also receive the plenary indulgence by fulfilling as much as they are able and by offering their sorrows and sufferings to God through Saint Joseph, consoler of the sick and patron saint for receiving a good death.
 

The following prayers and activities have been enriched with a plenary indulgence:
• meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”) or participate in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on Saint Joseph;
• perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, inspired by the life and example of Saint Joseph;
• pray the Rosary together as a family or a couple, modeling the virtues of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph;
• dedicate with confidence their daily work to the protection of Saint Joseph the Worker, including the efforts of those who are unemployed, underemployed, or seeking more dignified work;
• devoutly recite the Litany of Saint Joseph (from the Latin Church; available at USCCB.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/litanies/litany-of-saint-joseph),1 some or all of the Akathistos hymn to Saint Joseph (from the Byzantine Churches), or another suitable prayer in each liturgical tradition, especially for the intentions of persecuted Catholics in the Church and around the world, and for the relief of all Christians who suffer persecution; or
• devoutly recite an another approved prayer to Saint Joseph, for example the “To you, O blessed Joseph” (available at USCCB.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/prayer-to-st-joseph-after-rosary),2 especially on various feasts of Saint Joseph: March 19 (his solemnity), May 1 (St. Joseph the Worker), the Sunday after Christmas (Holy Family), St. Joseph’s Sunday (Byzantine Catholics), or on the 19th day of each month, or each Wednesday, traditionally dedicated to honor his memory with pious devotions.
 
To assist the faithful, the final page of the (attached) Newsletter includes several prayers for Saint Joseph drawn from approved sources, including the recent Apostolic Letter Patris Corde by Pope Francis, and the Roman Missal.

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After Wed. Morning Mass and
by Appointment (Except Mondays)

Location:
4736 Lyba Street
Shreveport, LA   71109-0467

Postal Mail:
4736 Lyba Street
Shreveport, LA   71109-0467

Rectory:            318-635-2121
Church:             318-635-2121
Fax:                  318-635-5226
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